Description:

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, Phase IV, ca. 500 to 700 CE. Bow chicka wow wow! A steamy pottery stirrup vessel depicting a couple in the erotic act of copulation. The Moche created erotic huacos throughout their 800-year period, resulting in the longest unbroken erotic ceramics tradition in the world, truly unique in the history of mankind. In addition to sexual acts, the Moche used pottery to represent depictions of hermaphroditism and androgyny as well as venereal disease and health conditions such as hemorrhoids. Yes, perhaps this is a bit more information than you wish to hear. However, the Moche deemed it important to record and teach about all aspects of their lives through their art. Due to the level of explicitness of these vessels, as seen in this example, scholars have suggested that this level of explicitness was intended to be didactic rather than solely titillating. Size: 8.2" L x 4" W x 8.1" H (20.8 cm x 10.2 cm x 20.6 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Schuetz collection, Florida, USA; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA, October 13th, 2021, lot 317; ex-private West Virginia, USA collection, acquired late 1960s to early 1970s

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#175155

  • Condition: Professionally repaired with areas of expert restoration. A few minor chips, as well as nicks and abrasions to surface, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with great remaining pigments. Old collection labels on base.

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November 10, 2022 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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